Native Wildflowers and Bees of Western The Beauty of Wildflowers

Many of us enjoy the beauty Cross section of a of wildflowers, but we may not from the aster family ray know their names or how to disk flower identify them. flower This basic guide will help you identify sixteen pairs of common native wildflowers and bees of western Montana that provide vital services. For this guide, a bee is paired with a flower it is most likely to visit, but it may visit other flower types as well. From early spring through the fall, look for these wildflowers and bees as you walk along forest and grassland trails. united separate Please do not pick wildflowers; leave them where you find them for others to enjoy.

PARTS OF A FLOWER

stigma pistil style anther ovary filament

2 What is Pollination?

Pollination is the process of NESTING LIFESTYLES moving pollen from one flower to egg Bees can be organized another of the same species, which honey into two groups produces fertile seeds. Most based on their nesting flowering depend on native lifestyle – social and bees for pollination. Bees and solitary. other animals pollinate one-third Social nesting bees, of the food we eat – all kinds of larva Social Nest like bumble bees, fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts (bumble bee) build communal nests and beans. And they provide us and share division with landscapes filled with of labor including foraging and rearing wonderful wildflowers. of young. They are each Bees are by far the most effective the only native bees cell that nest socially in a pollinators because they feed only contains colony. on . Flowers attract and an egg reward bees for their pollination Solitary nesting bees nest alone, but some service with sugar-rich nectar to species share nest fuel their flight and protein-rich Solitary Nest entrances or nest in pollen, or bee bread, to feed their (leafcutter bee) groups. young brood.

parts of a bee identification tips Side view of a digger bee How do I know it's a bee and not a fly or a wasp? head thorax abdomen Fly forewing flies hover, 2 wings bees don᾽t hindwing (bees have 4) abdominal antenna Wasp segments very All male bees little often simple have 7 abdominal hair has a pinched eyes segments, females does not have 6 segments carry pollen abdomen compound A common non-native eye The European honey bee is very mouth Pollen grains stick to common in western parts branched hairs, which Montana – but not helps distinguish bees a native to North from wasps. America. 3 Blanketflower 6-16 separate, lobed ray Gaillardia aristata flowers* Blanketflower, with its long-lasting multi-colored many yellow flower heads of yellow, daisy-like flowers with deep reddish purple, red and orange, centers grows in clumps. It can disk flowers* are covered be found in dry, open with wooly grasslands and mountain hairs slopes.

long hairs on stem and

leaves are long, lance-shaped, basal, and alternate, with toothed upper leaves

family Aster aceae Blooms: June-August Size: up to 20" tall * see page 2

Long-horned Bee Melissodes spp. These bees get their males have very long name from the very long antennae antennae found on males. Long-horned bees are important pollinators of sunflowers, blanketflowers, and other asters. robust and hairy body

bands of females store pollen on hairs on rear legs FAMILY APID AE pale hair Nest: Solitary (ground) Size: 0.3-0.7" long approximate size 4 Clarkia about Clarkia pulchella 1" across Clarkia, named in 1806 by for Lewis and petals have elkhorn-shaped 3 lobes Clark Expedition petals partner William Clark, occurs at low elevations, in valleys and on dry mountain slopes. white stigma Clarkia is also that mimics a flower known as “elkhorns” and “ragged robin.” 4 separate petals are deep rose to lavender

buds hang down then turn upward when they bloom many narrow leaves along stem family Onagraceae Blooms: June-August Size: 10-20" tall

Metallic Green Bee Agapostemon texanus

These brilliantly colored bright green head metallic blue or green and thorax bees visit a wide variety of flowers. These bees are commonly called “sweat bees” because they are attracted to human sweat. black and yellow striped abdomen (males*) FAMILY HALICTID AE Nest: Solitary (ground) Size: 0.3-0.6" long *females are entirely green 5 Yellow Bells flowers are small, yellow,* nodding, Fritillaria pudica narrow, and each stem bell-shaped One of the first usually has one wildflowers to bloom flower in the spring after the snow melts, yellow bells grow in dry, loose soil in open woodlands and 6 separate tepals grasslands. Meriwether (called “tepals” Lewis collected this when petals and look similar) in 1806.

usually 2 opposite, erect, linear leaves per stem smooth, hairless stem

family Lilia ceae Blooms: April - June Size: 4-12" tall *petals turn brick red after pollination

Half-black Bumble Bee Bombus vagans These large, hairy bees are one of the most common bumble bees in our area. black dot They forage in sunny on thorax half black and meadows and shady half yellow forests. abdomen black face Bumble bees nest in small cavities such as abandoned rodent burrows or under grass tussocks.

FAMILY APID AE Nest: Social Size: 0.4-0.9" long

6 5 magenta to lavender petals Shooting Star reflexed Dodecatheon pulchellum (point up) The nodding flowers of petals united shooting stars look like only at base pink darts. They grow 1-25 flowers in yellow and red in moist grasslands, simple corolla tube at forests, and along arrangement base of petals streambanks. yellowish collar purplish point of five fused anthers

cluster of oval to oblong leaves only at base

family Blooms: April - June Size: 6-16" tall

Great Basin Bumble Bee Bombus centralis and other bumble bees perform a special behavior called black band “buzz pollination,” in which a red and on thorax bee grabs a flower in her jaws yellow segments and vibrates her wings to on abdomen dislodge pollen trapped in a flower᾽s anthers. Bumble bees buzz pollinate tomatoes, peppers, cranberries and shooting stars.

pollen basket FAMILY apid ae Nest: Social Females carry pollen as a wet ball in a pollen basket Size: 0.4-0.9" long on their hind legs. 7 Sticky Geranium sticky hairs cover sepals, leaves and Geranium viscosissimum stems mostly at top of plant This perennial with a 5 separate thick, woody taproot pink to is commonly found lavender in open grasslands and petals with valleys to subalpine dark red veins meadows. Sticky to the bristle-tipped touch, geraniums emit sepals a strong geranium scent. The dark red veins on the petals guide pollinators to their reward. sticky hairs emit a strong geranium scent deeply-lobed leaves divided into 5-7 coarsely toothed segments

family GER ANiacea Blooms: June - August Size: 16-32" tall

Leafcutter Bee Megachile spp. Female leafcutter bees cut circular or petal pieces and use them to line their brood cells that they build in holes in wood or loose gravel. Their stout bodies with females upturned abdomens give carry pollen on the powerful them a pugnacious look. undersides jaws of their abdomens flattened, FAMILY MEGACHILIDAE upturned Nest: Solitary abdomen Size: 0.4-0.8" long

8 Nine-leaf Biscuitroot Lomatium triternatum The nine leaves, consisting of three tiny yellow sets of three leaflets compact flower each, give nine-leaf clusters at stalk tips biscuitroot its name. arranged in This perennial, in the carrot family, can be found on open slopes from valleys to subalpine forests.

leaf stalk forms sheath compound leaves at base are in 3 sets of 3 narrow leaflets each

family Apia ceae Blooms: May - July Size: 8-32" tall

Hunt’s Bumble Bee Bombus huntii Queen Hunt's bumble bees are one of the earliest bum- black band ble bees to emerge in spring on thorax in search of the first flowers yellow-red-yellow of the season. Because of bands on abdomen their chunky size and furry body, bumble bees can fly in yellow cooler temperatures and at hairs on face lower light levels than many other bees.

FAMILY APID AE Nest: Social Size: 0.4-0.9" long

9 Lewisia rediviva petals deep to 12-18 Montana᾽s state flower light pink, or separate grows on dry, exposed even white lance-shaped mountain slopes in gravelly petals soils. It᾽s named for Meriwether Lewis who numerous white collected it on July 1, 1806 with orange 5-9 during the Lewis and Clark pollen sacs sepals Expedition.

solitary flowers on short stems close to the ground Leaves disappear usually before flowers bloom. They are narrow, basal, succulent and less than 2" tall.

family Portulacaceae Blooms: May - June Size: 2-3" tall

Mining Bee Andrena spp. These medium-sized bees are often encountered by gardeners because they nest in lawns. They are bands of pale among the most common hairs on dark abdomen bees that forage in the spring. metallic blue, green, or black body

females carry pollen FAMILY ANDRENIDAE on hairs on hind legs Nest: Solitary (ground) and thorax Size: 0.3-0.7" long

10 Little Larkspur 1-15 dark bluish-purple bicolor blooms per 2 separate stem yellowish-white petals Little larkspur can be found in dry areas from 2 separate valleys to subalpine blue petals forests. It s called ᾽ 5 separate sepals – “larkspur” because one of upper sepal has the sepals on each bloom backward-pointing spur has a spur, which looks like (snapdragon-like) the spur on a lark᾽s foot.

simple leaves on stem few, palm-shaped basal leaves

family Blooms: May - July stem reddish at bottom Size: 5-16" tall

Large Carpenter Bee* Xylocopa californica very These large, black or golden large bee brown bees are often mistaken for bumble bees, but with much less hair. Males are territorial and powerful will buzz around humans, jaws for but they (males) are unable digging to sting. They build nests in nests in wood or stems. wood

males of some FAMILY APID AE species are Nest: Solitary (wood) golden brown Size: 0.5-1.25" long *uncommon in Montana 11 Arrowleaf Balsamroot 12-22 separate yellow ray flowers* Balsamorhiza sagittata yellow disk flowers* The leaves of arrowleaf balsamroot can be up to dense white hairs make a foot long and look large yellow leaves look silvery silvery due to dense sunflowers white hairs that cover their surface. Look for this plant in open grasslands, valleys and mountain slopes.

many flower heads per plant

cluster of large arrowhead-shaped family aster aceaE basal leaves Blooms: April - July Size: 12-24" tall * see page 2

Sunflower Bee Diadasia enavata robust and hairy body These bees have a specialized foraging habit – collecting pollen and nectar from sunflowers and other asters only. These solitary ground nesters have a unique habit of surrounding the nest entrance with a turret (chimney) possibly to protect it from the weather.

females carry pollen in very large baskets FAMILY APID AE on their hind legs Nest: Solitary (ground) Size: 0.2-0.9" long

12 Common Harebell many flowers per plant Campanula rotundifolia Harebell, with its bell-shaped flowers, is commonly found in open sites from grasslands and valleys to subalpine blue bell-shaped forests. If you break open flowers that harebell′s stems or leaves, nod from a long stem you will notice a milky 5 united petals fluid.

leaves on stem are very narrow few basal, round to family heart-shaped leaves Campanulaceae only at base of plant, Blooms: June - September inconspicuous by time flowers bloom Size: 6-20" tall

Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus spp. hairless These small, slender and body hairless bees are often mistaken for wasps. Females do not carry pollen externally on their body; instead, they store it in their stomachs. Most species nest in stems and twigs. yellow face

yellow FAMILY COLLETID AE markings on legs Nest: Solitary Size: 0.2-0.3" long

13 Scarlet Paintbrush spike of scarlet red to pale orange showy Castilleja miniata lobed Because paintbrush produces lots of nectar, some ecologists believe that paintbrush and hummingbirds evolved together. Paintbrush is bracts hide greenish partly parasitic, which tubular flowers means that they take within some of their nutrients and water from nearby host plants. Look for this widespread plant in moist narrow lance-shaped meadows and open forests. leaves that gradually transition into the colored bracts at the top of the stem

family Scrophulariaceae hairy stem Blooms: July - September Size: 8-32" tall

Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee Bombus insularis Cuckoo bumble bees parasitize nests of nonparasitic bumble bees. Queen yellow hairs cuckoo bumble bees invade other on face bumble bee nests, kill the resident bare spot queen, and force the workers to on back of raise young parasitic bees along abdomen with the brood of the host colony. They can be seen patrolling a few inches above the ground looking for bumble bee nests. yellow tufts on sides FAMILY APID AE Nest: Social (parasitic) no pollen basket on hind leg Size: 0.4-0.9" long

14 Hairy False Goldenaster 10-25 separate ray flowers* Heterotheca villosa disk flowers* This aster is found in clusters on well-drained, sandy mountain slopes. The leaves have a pleasant scent and look grayish- green because of the silky hairs that cover the plant. Hairy false goldenaster small yellow spreads easily in hot, daisy-like flower heads exposed areas. unruly silky hairs on leaves

oblong leaves broader toward tip family aster aceaE unlobed, Blooms: July - September grayish-green long leaves Size: 6-20" tall * see page 2

Polyester Bee bands of pale Colletes spp. hair on abdomen heart-shaped Slender, hairy, small head bees that line their brood cells with a polyester-like material, hence their common name, “polyester bee.” This waterproof lining allows them to nest along creeks and in moist soils.

short-tongued FAMILY COLLETID AE bee that pollinates Nest: Solitary (ground) disk flowers Size: 0.3 - 0.6" long

15 Fuzzy-tongued Penstemon petals lavender to bluish-purple Penstemon eriantherus This penstemon, with its funnel-shaped blooms, can 2-lobed upper lip 3-lobed lower lip be found on open, dry and sunny mountain slopes with rocky soils. Look for ridges inside the “throats” yellowish 5 petals spreading long hairs of this wildflower along at the mouth and inside tube united below into with prominent yellow a tube hairs, hence the name “fuzzy-tongued.” opposite, narrow, lance-shaped leaves

some leaves may have a few teeth on the margin

family Scrophulariaceae Blooms: May - July Size: 5-25" tall

Digger Bee Anthophora spp. robust, hairy body Robust, hairy and fast- flying bees that make a buzzing sound and are bands of sometimes mistaken for pale hair bumble bees. They often on abdomen gather together to sleep on a single plant and will fall asleep holding onto the plant with their jaws.

hairy hind legs on females for FAMILY APID AE carrying pollen

Nest: Solitary (ground) very long-tongued Size: 0.25-1" long bee that pollinates tubular flowers 16 Sagebrush Buttercup glaberrimus

One of the earliest 5 separate, yellow flowers to bloom. petals are shiny and saucer-shaped petals When you see a waxy-looking buttercup, you know many yellow that spring is on its stamens and green pistils way. Sagebrush stem leaves buttercup grows deeply lobed in valleys and on dry, open mountain slopes. fleshy, smooth stems and leaves

basal leaf bald, obovate, and family shallowly lobed Ranunculaceae Blooms: March - May Size: 3-8" tall

Orchard Mason Bee Osmia lignaria broad One of the earliest bees to emerge head in the spring. They are important pollinators of fruit trees; thus the name orchard mason bee. Solitary nesters use existing robust, tunnels in dead wood, crevices metallic blue body in between stones, and orchard mason bee houses. Females plug the entrance of each egg cell with mud. females carry pollen on the undersides of their FAMILY MEGACHILIDAE abdomens Nest: Solitary Size: 0.2-0.8" long

17 Prairie Smoke dusty pink, triflorum hairy, bell-shaped flowers that hang in These nodding, groups of threes urn-shaped flowers, also called “old man's whiskers,” grow in grasslands to mountain meadows seed head matures into in dry to moist pink sepals hide feathery plume open areas. Called yellowish petals “prairie smoke” because these flowers, toothed when matured to leaflets feathery seeds, look like smoke.

basal clump of fern-like, hairy, blue-green leaves family R osaceae Blooms: May - July Size: 6-18" tall

Western Bumble Bee Bombus occidentalis Once common in the West, western bumble bees have disappeared in yellow spot the western-most portion of their Rocky Mountain on black thorax range, possibly due to introduced species have diseases and habitat loss. yellow and white Variable in color, the Rocky bands on abdomen Mountain western bumble bees have a yellow band and white bands on the rear of their abdomens. They emerge early in the spring.

FAMILY APID AE Nest: Social Size: 0.4-0.9" long

18 Silky Lupine Lupinus sericeus blue pea-like upper petal is flowers with silky-hairy on This perennial herb is separate petals upper surface found in moderately dry lower two petals fused open areas from valleys, together forming a to mountain slopes canoe-like shape and subalpine forest meadows. Although rare, alternate leaves, palmately divided you may spot a white into 7-9 lance- silky lupine. shaped leaflets

family F abaceae densely silky-hairy Blooms: May - August leaves silvery above Size: 8-32" tall and below

Mountain Bumble Bee Bombus appositus white hairs These large, yellow and black, on thorax long-tongued bumble bees are found in the . yellowish-white hairs on face When a bumble bee lands on a lupine flower, its body weight tips five yellow the canoe-like petals down (as if bands on opening a trap door) exposing the abdomen pollen which sticks to the bee’s belly. Lupines have no nectar so pollen is the only reward.

FAMILY APID AE Nest: Social Size: 0.4-0.9" long

19 Lolo National Forest Building 24, Fort Missoula Missoula, MT 59804

Text: Susan Reel Design and Native Plant Illustrations: Nancy Seiler Bee Illustrations: Steve Buchanan

For more information on bees and native plants, check out Pollinator Partnership at www.pollinator.org and The Xerces Society at www.xerces.org.

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